Band adjusting device for garments

ABSTRACT

A band adjustment device for garments having overlapping parts separated from each other in the region of the waist or hips, for example trousers with overlapping front and back parts, characterised by the feature that a strip which forms a belt member is secured adjustably within a limited range and fixed in position on a buckle, preferably having a pivotal spike and said strip is provided with an oblong opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the strip and the buckle has a member limiting the longitudinal adjustment of the strip and engageable in the opening in the strip.

United States Patent 1191 Ihmels 1 Aug. 13, 1974 1 BAND ADJUSTING DEVICEFOR 2;629,104 2/1953 Easlick 2/322 GARMENTS 3,017,641 l/1962 Stollman2/322 76 I J h [hm I 3,031,682 5/1962 Mihalyi 2/322 t o ann e l 1 menBerchofiBemsstrasse 11, 4505 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS IburgTeutoburgerwald, Germany 526,150 5/1955 Italy 2/322 [22] Flled: 1972Primary ExaminerGeo. V. Larkin [21] Appl. No.: 305,034 Attorney, Agent,or FirmSughrue, Rothwell, Mion,

Zinn & Macpeak [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Tl Nov. 10, 1971Germany 7143337 [57] CT .Ian. 21, 1972 Germany 2202822 A band adlustmemdevlce for gannems havmg Over- Oct. 17, 1972 Germany 7238011 lappingParts Separated from each other in the region of the waist or hips, forexample trousers with overlap- 52 us. c1. 2/322, 24/74 R P from and backParts, characterised y the feature 51 Int. Cl. A4lf 9/00 that a stripwhich forms a belt member is Secured [58] Field 61 Search 2/300, 311,322, 325, 336, j y Within a limited range and fixed in Position on 2 333312; 24 74 R, 74 A, 173 R, 171 1 3 a buckle, preferably having a pivotalspike and said 194 strip is provided with an oblong opening extending inthe longitudinal direction of the strip and the buckle [56] ReferencesCi d has a member limiting the longitudinal adjustment of UNITED STATESPATENTS the strip and engageable in the opening in the strip.

661,689 11/1900 c16w 2/322 7 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures 2.430970 11/1947Mcyerson et a1. 2/322 PATENTEU Am; 1 31m SHEET 3 BF 5 PATENTED ms 131924 3' 828'. 7.

sum u or s PAIENIEB we 1 arm SHEEI 5 BF 5 1 BAND ADJUSTING DEVICE FORGARMENT S The present invention concerns a band circumference adjusteddevice for garments, comprising overlapping parts separated in the waistor hip region, more particularly trousers, with an overlapping front andback part and concerns trousers having a band adjusting device.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a band adjustementdevice for garments, more particularly trousers, said device beingsimply and economically formed of only a few parts and being readilymanipulated and secured to a garment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a band adjustment devicewhich is operable with only a few manipulations to effect the adjustmentand is capable of manipulation for lengthening the band with only onehand.

A further object of the present invention is seen in the feature thatthe relatively adjustable parts of the same garment retain their shapewithout undue crease formation in adjusted positions of the band andalso during the adjustment.

Another object of the present invention may be seen in simple andreliable limitation of the amount of adjustment of the band.

Yet a further object of the present invention resides in the feature ofapplying the band adjustment device in a simple and reliable manner to agarment in a secure position and making it detachable for cleaningpurposes and the like.

According to the present invention a band adjustment device for garmentshaving overlapping parts separated from each other in the waist or hipregion, for example trousers having overlapping front and back parts, ischaracterized by the feature that, a buckle, preferably comprising apivotal spike, is adjustable and securable in position to a limitedextent in the longitudinal direction of a strip forming a belt memberand the strip is provided with an oblong opening extending in thelongitudinal direction of said strip, the buckle being provided with asecuring member limiting the longitudinal adjustment of the strip andengageable in the opening in the strip.

in a preferred embodiment the strip, which forms part of a belt or apart connectable with a belt and thus representing an end of a belt or apart to be secured to a garment, may be connected to two interengageableadjustment means infinitely displaceable relatively to each other in thecircumferential direction of the band, such means being for example arail and a bar, one adjustment means of which is secured to the front ofthe garment, e.g., the front of a pair of trousers and the otheradjusting means to the back of the same garment.

In another feature of the present invention, a stiffening member of anadjustment means having a length defining end and a fixing flap issecured in position on a pair of trousers with a band adjustment devicein the band of the front part of the trousers and at the same time theguide rail of this adjustment means projects out of the front part ofthe trousers in the separating area thereof and the other bar-likeadjustment means is secured to the outside of the back of the trousersby sewing, sticking or locking over which the guide rail engages whilstthe strip member, as a belt member with its spike buckle, preferably alimiting member, is detachably secured to a loop provided in the frontslit portion of the front of the trousers and is detachably secured byits end remote from the buckle by means of a hook-shaped connectingmeans to a loop of the back of the trousers or by a clamping and slidingconnecting means to the adjustment means on the back of the trousers;these two securing positions of the strip to the trousers form twopoints disposed on opposite sides of the separating line of the trouserswhereby their distance from each other varies as the band is adjustedduring the displacement of the strip.

The band adjusting device of the present invention makes it possible ina simple economical and reliable manner to effect an infinitely variableadjustment of the band, the adjustment of which may be effectedextremely rapidly with only very few manipulations.

It is a special advantage that, due to the design of the device and theguided connection of the two parts of the garment for increasing theband, only on hand is necessary for manipulation, in that only theclamping of the buckle end need be released and the belt is thendisplaced in the buckle by the pressure of the body of the wearer of thegarment and, at the same time, the two parts of the garment connected tothe strip are separted. This is a great advantage for persons in motorvehicles, since elargement of the band may be safely effected with onehand during travel.

For decreasing the band only two manipulations are preferably necessary,namely the release of the clamping of the strip in the buckle anddrawing the released end of the strip through the buckle.

The two parts of the garment are connected infinitely variablydisplaceably to each other by extremely simply designed, economicallyproduced ,and reliably cooperating guide means so that the two parts ofthe garment are secured in position relatively to each other and thegarment has a neat and uniform appearance.

A further advantage of the present invention may be seen in theshape-retaining formation of the front part during the adjustment and ineach adjusted positiondue to the stiffening member disposed in the bandthus avoiding crease formation when a front part of the garment isdisplaced and providing 'an easy and reliable movement in the reductionof the band.

The displacement mechanism, guide means, the stiffening member and thestrip forming an end of the belt,

are simple and inexpensive to make-the strip has a simple and reliableconnection with the two parts of the garment and the stiffening membercan be used for parts of any size on account of its design. Thestiffening member can be attached in position in the band with only afew manipulations and, in the case of parts of different sizes, can bedivided to the required lengths.

The time required for the stiffening member of the guide means and thefixing points for the adjusting device is extremely short in the makingof the garment.

Manipulation for the adjustment can be effected rapidly and infinitelyadjustably by means of a simply designed clamping device, e. g., aclamping roller whereby the adjustment can be made with only a fewmanipulations. In particular, the possibility of adjustment when aperson is seated is an advantage since no complicated opening in thearea of the band has to be made, instead, the strip can be separatelylengthened or shortened to the desired circumference merely by looseningthe clamping device.

The strip is securely held on the buckle by the opening in the strip andthe limiting member at the buckle end engages therein so that anyunintentional detachment of the connection between the strip and thebuckle during the adjustment is impossible.

Furthermore, due to the opening, a buckle on a garment for securing thestrip at the buckle end can be provided on the garment, a feature whichdoes not result in a restriction of the adjustment and has a favourableeffect on the position of the strip on the garment.

The strip is detachably connected to the band adjustment means in asimple, reliable and easy manner, this connecting point between thestrip and adjusting device simultaneously forming a fixed pointnecessary for the adjustment of the band.

The connection is achieved by a sliding clamp which is mountedinfinitely adjustably on the strip and is reliably connected to aconnecting member of the adjust ment device by an inserted and orlocking connection.

This sliding clamp preferably has a smooth convex shape by which theconnecting member can be favourably received by the sliding clamp andthis connecting portion is extremely smooth and does not projectupwardly.

Particularly for cleaning a pair of trousers to which the adjustingdevice is secured, the strip member with the buckle can easily beremoved with very few manipulations with the clamping slide and theconnecting member.

Some embodiments of the invention are illustrated in and furtherdescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beltwith a spike buckle,

FIG. 2 is a front view of the spike buckle with an end of the belt stripsecured infinitely adjustably in a certain longitudinal area on thebuckle,

FIG. 3 is a cross section through the connecting area between the buckleand the end of the belt, taken on the line I-l of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pair of trousers with a belt and aninfinitely adjustable band,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the same pair of trousers without abelt, but having an adjustable band,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the belt with an end infmtely adjustablein the buckle, opposed to the perforated end of the belt and providedwith an oblong adjusting opening,

FIG. 7 is a plan of the adjustable portion of the trousers with partssecured displaceably relatively to each other by interengaging guidemeans, front part and back part, and a belt with a buckle, partly insection,

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the adjustable portion of the trousers showingthe front part, back part and belt in an exploded view shown partly insection,

FIG. 9 is a side view of the two parts of the trousers with guide meansand a stiffening member disposed in the band,

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the stiffening member with guide railand the guide strip to be engaged by the guide rail,

FIG. 11 is a cross section through the guide bar with guide railpartially enclosing said guide bar,

FIG. 12 is a cross section through the guide bar and the guide railscompletely enclosing it,

FIG. 13 is a side view of the front of the trousers with guide meansextending out of the end of its band on the separating side.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a belt buckle showing the unperforatedend of the belt and hook provided on the buckle for securing the buckleto the front of the trousers,

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a belt buckle with a hook provided on abar at the band end for securing the buckle to the front of thetrousers,

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a pair of trousers provided with thebelt and band adjusting device,

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a clamping slide securable to the beltand detachably connected to adjustment means of the band adjustmentdevice secured to the trousers,

FIG. 18 is an inner view of a portion of the buckle belt showing theband adjusting device formed of two oppositely displaceable adjustingmeans and sliding clamp,

FIG. 19 is a plan view of the same part of the belt with adjustingdevice and sliding clamp,

FIG. 20 is a plan on a magnified scale of the two oppositelydisplaceable adjusting means,

FIG. 21 is a front view of the two adjusting means viewed from the endto be connected to the sliding clamp.

A band adjustment device according to the present invention, forgarments 10 having overlapping (front and back parts 10a, 10b) separatedfrom each other in the region of the waist and hips, more particularlyfor trousers with overlapping parts (front and back part 10a, 10b), hasa strip 11 which is infinitely displaceable in the longitudinaldirection of the strip and secured in position for setting the extensionof the waist and is held in a buckle 12, preferably a spike buckle.

The strip 11 preferably forms part of a belt 13 at the opposite end fromthe perforated end of the belt. The strip 11 can be of onepiececonstruction with the belt 13 or can be secured to the belt so that thetwo parts form a belt. The strip 11 could also be directly secured to agarment 10 at a side portion thereof and a second belt member havingperforations could be secured to the opposite side of the garment 10.

The strip 11 represents the unperforated end of the belt 13 connectedpermanently to said belt 13 and the other end of the belt is providedwith holes 14 provided in spaced relationship with each other in thelongitudinal direction of the belt for connection with the buckle 12. Aspike 15 may be inserted into these holes for securing the belt.

The strip 11 is secured adjustably to the buckle 12 in the longitudinaldirection of the belt by a device 16 provided on the buckle 12 so that,in addition to the circumferential setting of the belt 13 by theperforated end 13a, circumferential adjustment is possible by the strip1 1.

The strip 11 is provided with a slotted opening 17 which extends in thelongitudinal direction of the strip and in which a part 18 provided onthe buckle 12 and limiting the longitudinal adjustment of the strip 11to a certain extent engages; this limiting member 18 determines, on theone hand, the extent of the longitudinal adjustment by stops at bothends of the opening within the strip 11 and, on the other hand, preventsextraction of the strip out of the buckle 12 since this limiting member18 prevents any further longitudinal adjustment as it strikes againstthe end of the recess 17 adjacent to the end of the strip 11.

The limiting member 18 is formed by a bar, pin, projection, rivet,button or the like extending preferably at right angles to the plane ofadjustment, i.e., the plane of displacement of the strip 11 relative toadjustment at the buckle end. It is preferable to form the limitingmember 18 of a bar bent out of the support member 19 of the buckle: thisbar 18 assumes the wall thickness of the support member 19 and isexposed by incisions with the exception of a connecting area in thesupport member 19 so that it could be bent out in the direction of thestrip 11.

Instead of the bent-out bar, the limiting member 18 could also be formedby a pin, rivet or the like secured to the support member 19 andengaging in the opening 17.

The limiting member 18 preferably extends between the bearing portions15a for the spike 15 of the buckle and a buckle stirrup 21 co-operatingtherewith and the device 16 holding a strip 11 infinitely adjustably onthe buckle 12, see FIGS. 2 and 3.

The limiting member 18 shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 18, 19 is hook-shaped andextends near the bearing point portions at a clearance therefrom. Thishook member 18 simultaneously represents a securing member with whichthe buckle 12 is detachably secured to a loop, metal eyelet 20, or thelike in the front region of the front part 10a of the garment.

The oblong opening 17 extending in the longitudinal direction of thestrip by its greater basic extension is preferably formed by a slotextending along the lines of the belt 13 and strip 11, bisecting thewidth. The slot 17 may have a longth for example of approximately 5 to20 cm preferably approximately l0 cm.

In order to prevent any possible displacement of the bar 18 out of theslot 17 by movement or deformation of the strip 11 in the longitudinaldirection of the strip, transversely of the adjustment device thelimiting member 18 may engage by a collar or similar enlargementprovided on its free end, behind the rear surface of the belt facing thebody of the person wearing it, or the strip 11 along slot 17 may beengaged on both surfaces by a button-like roller-shaped limiting member18.

The supporting member 19 is provided with oppositely disposed bearingshanks 22 engaging over the longitudinal edges of the strip on bothsides and extending at an angle, preferably at a right angle, to theplane of adjustment of the strip, said shanks being preferably made inone piece with the supporting member 19 and in each of which shanks anoblong guiding and clamping opening 23 is formed in which a clampingroller 24 is axially rotatable and displaceably mounted transversely ofthe axial direction of the roller, said clamping roller forming aportion of the holding device 16 for the infinitely variable adjustmentof the buckle on the strip 11 at the end of the belt. The two guideopenings 23 extend from one end, preferably the spike end of the buckle,to the other end at an incline to the supporting member 19 of thebuckle, to the other end at an incline to the supporting member 19 ofthe buckle, so that the spacing between the opening 23 and thesupporting member 19 reduces towards the supporting member 19 and thusthe space thereof from the strip 11 is reduced. Due to these inclinedguide openings 23 and the clamping roller 24 the strip 11 extendingbetween the roller 24 and supporting member 19 is retained infinitelyadjustably on the buckle 12 in which the roller 24 clamps the strip 11between itself and the member 19. Upon traction on the belt 13 in thedirection of the arrow A the clamping roller 24 loosely in contact withthe belt 13 is moved into the region of the slot of the guide opening 23located at a very small space from the belt 13 and effects firm clampingof the belt 13 with the strip 11.

For loosening the attachment of the belt for a change of length, theroller 24 must be manually displaced against the traction, so that theclamping action is cancelled and the strip 11 may have a change ofposition in the longitudinal direction. The clamping roller 24preferalby has at both ends an enlargement like the head of a rivet, sothat it is secured against falling out of the slots 23.

The belt 23 is drawn by its buckle end, for example through a slot 25extending in the end portion remote from the spike 15 at a space fromthe clamping device 24, in the support member 19, so that by bending thebelt member 11 in the slot 25 additional security against unintentionallongitudinal displacement is obtained.

The belt 13 may also be drawn through the buckle 12 without passingthrough the slot 25 see the chaindotted position in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 7,8, 14, 18, 19, in which it extends in a straight line along the back ofthe supporting member 19 without a bend.

It is possible to pass a loop 20 (FIG. 3) provided on the trousers orthe like through the slot 17, through which the spike 15 engages forsecuring the position of the buckle 12 on the trousers.

The front 10a and the back 10b of the trousers are connected togetherrelatively displaceably by means of guide means 26, 27/28, 29 of thedevice for adjusting the circumference of the band near the separation30 of the sides, said means engaging in each other infinitelyadjustably, whilst, for adjusting the band the front 10a is displacedmore or less over the back 10b.

The guide means 26, according to FIGS. 10-15, of the back portion 10b isformed by 21 preferably smooth guide strip securable to the outsidethereof, said strip being disposed near the band 10c and extending byits longitudinal direction round the circumference of the band; theguide means 26 of the front part 10a is provided with a guide rail 31 atleast partially engaging round the guide strip 27. The two guide means27, 31, have complementary cross-sections. The guide rail 31 has forexample a C-shaped, dove-tailed or polygonal cross-section and the guidestrip 27 has a cross-section corresponding to this form.

The guide strip 27 extends over a certain length along the outside ofthe band and may be secured thereto by sewing, adhesion, press studs orthe like over its entire length at the same time the guide rail 31engages around the strip 27 by a half-open cross-section and isdisplaceable over the entire length of the guide strip (FIG. 11). Agroove 27a extending in the longitudinal direction of the strip 27 isable to receive the fixing seam for the attachment of the strip.

According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the guide strip 27 issecured only by its two ends to the back part 10b by sewing, adhesion,or press studs and the guide rail 31 is formed as a sleeve whichcompletely encloses the guide strip 27 and is displaceable between thetwo securing points thereof. The cross-section of the guide strip 27 andthe rail 31 shown in FIG. 12 may be circular, oval or polygonal.

The guide rail 31 is provided on a reinforcing member 32, preferably abar secured to the front part 10a, imparting rigidity to this part 10aand avoiding during the adjustment of the band any crease formation inthe front part 10a during its displacement. The stiffening member 32 issecured in position preferably in the band 100 of the front part 10a bysewing, clips or the like, extends by its entirelength in the band 10cand only the guide means 31 extends through the slot or the like out ofthe band 100 on the inside or out of the end of the band 100.

The reinforcing member 32 may be secured in the band 100 for example bya seam 33 extending along the front edge of the band 100 on the front ofthe trousers and a seam 34 leaving the slot free for releasing the guiderail 31, near the separating line 22 or on the separating line 30 of thefront part 10a. The reinforcing member 32 has, over its length, at aspace from the guide member 31, a reduced cross-section 35 formed by aseam, a crease, a perforation, or a welded edge which extends along theextension of the yoke shaped fold 10d and permits compact folding of thefront part 100 when the trousers are hung up or otherwise taken off anddisposed of neatly.

The reinforcing member 32 preferably has a rectangular cross-section andis formed as a strip carrying at one end the guide rail 31 and the otherend of which represent a lengthening part 32, corresponding to theparticular size of the trousers (band) so that only one reinforcingmember 32 is provided for all sizes of trousers and the end 3217 ofwhich, adjacent to the front edge of the front part of the trousers iscut off accordingly when the reinforcing member 32 is secured in theband 100. It is preferable to reduce the width of the reinforcing member32 for a certain length between the guide member 31 and the lengtheningend 32b. This reduced portion 32a is made sufficient in its length forthe reduced cross-section 35 to be located in this region. The rigidityof the reinforcing member 32 is reduced on the one hand, but is alwayssufficient for retaining the shape of the front part 10a of the trousersand, on the other hand, for the production of the reduced cross-section35 to be located next to a seam.

Adjacent the end of the reduced portion 32a in the rea of the guide railis a stop 32c which occupies the entire width of the reinforcing memberand is located behind the seam 34 in the band 10c and serves to securethe reinforcing member 32 in the band 100 against extraction.

The guide rail 31 is displaced in the direction of the back part 10brelatively to the plane of the reinforcing member with its plane ofdisplacement extending in the longitudinal direction; with the guiderail 31 the reinforcing member 32 forms a single part and is preferablymade of plastics material however, it may be made as a single metalpart.

The belt 13 may be secured by its strip 11 in two positions on bothsides of the division 30 to the two parts 10a, 10b of the trousers,whilst on the one hand the buckle 12 is detachably secured by the hook18, a press stud or the like fastener near the front edge of the frontpart 10a, the belt 13 is detachably secured on the back part 10b at aspace from the buckle 12 by means of a hook 36, a press stud or the likefastener. The strip 11 is longitudinally displaceable and secured inposition in the buckle 12 so that, upon the longitudinal movement of thebelt member, the two belt securing points 18, 36 are changed in theirspacing from each other and the front part 10a is displaced relativelyto the back part 10b for setting the circumference of the band.

The hook 18provided on the buckle 12 engages in the eyelet 21 mountednear the front edge of the front part 10a and simultaneously effectingan additional fixture of the reinforcing member 32 in the hand 10c andthe other hook 36 of the belt engages in a retaining eyelet 37 mountedat its base from the separating line 30 on the back part 10b thus bothparts 10a, 10b of the trousers are detachably connected to the belt 13and are displaced relatively to each other by the movement of the belt.

A holding loop 38 is secured to the free terminal edge of the strip 11through which loop the perforated end 13a of the belt is guided andwhich affords a possibility of engagement upon the displacement of theother end of the belt strip 11.

The bend adjustment device provided in the embodiment shown byinterengaging guide means 27, 31 is preferably provided only on one sideof the trousers 10; however they may also be provided on both sides,securing points 18, 36 being provided for the belt also on both sides.

In the case of a band of corresponding trouser material havingconsiderable stiffness the reinforcing member 32 may be omitted so thatthe guide rail 31 is secured to the inside of the front part 1021 of thetrousers.

It is also within the scope of the present invention, whilst using theguide means 27, 26, to provide a belt 13 having any other form ofbuckle. Again, the clamping roller 24 may be replaced by a clampinglever or the like.

It is also possible to secure the guide rail 31 to the back part 10b andthe guide rail 27 to the front part 100.

In the case of the arrangement of the reinforcing member 32 modifiedrelatively to FIG. 9, in the band 10c of the front part the guide means31 on the separating end of the belt 10c extends out of the band 10c;the entire stiffening member 32 is arranged in the band 100 and the stop320 is disposed in the end of the band and is secured against withdrawalby two seams 34 closing the end of the band above and below the guidemeans 31. The two seams 34, preferably closing or quilting seams, closethe end of the band with the exception of the opening for the guidemeans; they are on the separating line 30.

In the case of the other buckle construction shown in FIG. 14, the strip11 is provided without a slot 17 and is infinitely displaceable andsecurable by means of the clamping roller 24 or the like. In this casethe supporting member 19 of the buckle is provided at the upper andlower edge above and below the belt 13, with respective books 18, bymeans of which the buckle 12 may be detachably secured to two retainingeyelets 21 on the front part 10a.

FIG. 15 discloses another embodiment of a buckle 12 which also receivesdisplaceably and infinitely adjust ably a strip 11 formed without a slot17.

This buckle 12 is provided with a hook 18 for securing to a retainingeyelet 21 of the front part 10a, on a bar 19a on the back of the band,said hook 18 being secured for example to the bar 190 halfway up theheight of the buckle. The strip 1 1 may be slipped through the part 19and the bar 19a.

The device for adjusting the circumference of the band, shown in FIGS.16 21, is formed by two flexible adjustment means 28, 29 displaceablerelatively to each other in the peripheral direction of the band one,29, of which is secured to the back part b and the other, 28, to thefront 10a.

The adjustment means 29 on the back is detachably connected toconnecting means 39, preferably a sliding clamp, forming an adjustablesecuring point between the part 10b and strip 11, displaceable in thelongitudinal direction of the strip on said strip 11 and securable inposition; this sliding clamp 39 is infinitely adjustable on the strip 11and extends behind the line 30 separating the sides of the trousers. Thetwo parts 10a, 10b of the trousers, infinitely displaceable relativelyto each other within a certain range for setting the circumference ofthe band are thus disengageably connected with the buckle end of thebelt at strip 11 at two points having a space between them, the buckle12 being connected to the front part 10a and the sliding clamp 39 to therear part 10b so that the two fixed points are disposed on both sides ofthe separating line 30.

The sliding clamp 39 which forms a clamping buckle, and is preferablymade of metal has a base-plate 40 with two lateral bearing lugs 41 inwhich a clamping lever 42 is pivotably mounted, the swivel axis 43 ofwhich extends transversely at right angles to the longitudinal directionof the strip. This clamping lever 42 has a concave form in thelongitudinal direction of the pivotal axis and transversely thereto, bywhich a connecting member provided on the adjustment means 29 andserving for a detachable insertion and/or locking connection with theclamping lever 42 is received as far as possible in the extension of thesliding clamp 39 and hence there is a reduction of thickness in theregion of the fixed point. The multiple convex clamping lever 42 risesonly slightly with the connecting member 44 secured thereto, a featurewhich has a favourable effect on the garment 10 with respect to thethickness of the belt.

The clamping lever 42 of the sliding clamp has a detachably securablebar 42a on the connecting member 44.

The connecting member 44 is formed by a bearing 45 extendingtransversely of the longitudinal direction of the adjusting means andhaving bars 48 provided on both sides of the adjustment means 29,extending towards each other, providing an insertion slot 46 and forminga bearing opening 47 which are of different lengths and extend with thesame clearance above the bearing 45.

The bearing 45 is provided at the end of the adjustment means 29 remotefrom the other adjusting means 28 and the shorter bars 48 extendadjacently to the free end of the adjusting means.

For securing the sliding clamp 39, its clamping lever 42 is inserted inthe slot 46 by its bar 42a having a preferably rectangularcross-section, in the open position of the slide, in which position theclamping lever 42 extends at an angle from the baseplate 40 and is thenpushed with pivoting of the clamping lever under the longer bars 48 ofthe connecting member 44 so that the shorter bars 48 can engage over theclamping lever lug 42a; the clamping lever 42 then extends approximatelyon the plane of the base body, in the longitudinal direction of therelatively opposed bars 48, and is then pivoted with the bearing 45 intothe clamping position, the lug 42a pivoting through approximately 180about the pivotal axis 43 of the clamping lever in the bearing opening47 turning about its longitudinal axis.

The connecting member 44 is in the position connected to the guidingclamp 39 behind the pivotal axis 43 of said sliding clamp, see FIGS. 18and 19.

A reinforcement strip 28 attachable to the front part 10;: of thetrousers and projecting by a guide rail 49 on the separating line 30 outof the front part 10a and a guide strip 29 securable to the back part10b and engaged by the guide rail 49 are provided as adjustment means.

the guide rails 49 preferably has a C-shaped cross section and the guidestrip 29, engaged by this rail 49, an H-shaped cross-section, see FIG.21.

The reinforcement strip 28, securable to the front part 10a in theregion of the band and having a rectangular cross section, is formed asa strip and is disposed at one end against the slit seam on the frontpart 10a of the trousers and secured in position against the separatingline 30 of the front part; its other end is enlarged to form a fixingflap 50, said flap adjoining the guide rail 49 extending from theseparating line 30.

The end of the adjusting member 28 opposite to the fixing flap 50 may bebrought to the desired size of belt by a standard length production ofthe adjusting member 28. The other adjusting member which is in the formof a guide strip 28 is provided at its end with the connecting member 44and at the other end has a thickened portion 51, such as an increasedcrosssection, attachment or the like, as a limiting stop. The guide rail49 is thus provided infinitely adjustably between this limiting stop 51and the connecting member 44 forming a second limiting stop. At a spacefrom the limiting member 51 the guide strip 29 has two lateral recesses52 which make it possible to slide the guide rail 49 onto the guidestrip 29.

The two adjustment members 28, 29 with their parts guide strip 29 withconnecting member 44 and limiting stop 51 as also reinforcing member 28with fixing flaps 50 and guide rail 49 are made as a single piece ofplastics material.

The adjustment member 28 is secured in the band of the trousers l0 andthe adjusting member 29 secured to the outside of the back part 10b by aseam extending in the centre width of the H-shaped cross section.

For increasing the circumference of the band the buckle 12 is gripped inone hand and the clamping roller 24 thereof released so that, as aresult of the pressure of the body, the strip 11 at the end of the beltslides through the buckle 12 until it reaches the desired extension whenthis increase is reached the clamping roller 24 is released so that itmoves automatically to the desired clamping rotation and retains thebelt strip 11 again. If the circumference of the band is to be reducedthe buckle 12 is again grasped in one hand, drawn with the other hand ona guide and actuating member 38, such as a sliding stirrup, metal loopor the like secured to the free end of the strip and engaging around theother perforated end 13a of the belt, whereby the belt 11 can be drawnthrough the buckle 12 with automatic movement of the clamping roller 24into the release position until the desired reduction is achieved. Thebuckle 12 serves as an abutment and the metal loop 38 as a tractionmember. When the desired reduction in the dircumference of the band isachieved,

spike pivotally mounted on said plate for engagement with one of aplurality of holes in the opposite end of said strip and holding meansfor frictionally engaging ans securing said buckle means to said stripin an adboth parts 12, 38 are released and the clamping roller j t dposition,

24 then moves again into the fixing position.

During the enlargement or reduction of the band, the two parts a, 10b,of the trousers are released or increased in their overlap and bothparts 10a, 10b displaced relatively to each other the two adjustingmembers 28, 19 26, 27 providing the parts 10a, 10b with a perfect guideand avoid any creases within the parts 10a, 10b.

The strip 11 may be a separate member or an extended portion of the belt13 which extends from the loop 38 so far as the connecting means 36, 39.This strip 11 with the connecting means 36, 39 and guide means 26, 2728, 29 provides the adjusting means of the band circumference.

The adjusting device is also suitable for skirts, coats of othergarments.

I claim:

1. A band adjustment device for garments having overlapping partsseparated from each other in the region of the waist comprising a stripforming a belt member and buckle means adjustably secured for limitedmovement on one end of said strip, said strip being provided with anoblong opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the strip andsaid buckle means being provided with a member extending into saidopening for limiting the longitudinal adjustment of the buckle means onsaid strip, two interengageable adjustment means infinitely displaceablerelative to each other in the peripheral direction of the band, one ofsaid adjustment means being adapted for connection to one of saidoverlapping parts and the other adjustment means being adapted forconnection to the other of said overlapping parts and means fordetachably and adjustably securing said strip to one of said adjustmentmeans.

2. A band adjustment device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bucklemeans is comprised of a plate, a

3. A band adjustment device as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidlimiting member is of integral onepiece construction with said plate,said limiting member having a portion extending at right angles to theplate and a portion for engagement with a loop on a garment.

4. A band adjustment device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plateis provided with a pair of opposed flanges having oblong slots thereinwith one end of each slot being closer to said plate than the oppositeend and said holding means comprises a clamping roller rotatably andtransversely displaceable in said slot whereby said strip will befrictionally engaged between said roller and said plate.

5. A band adjustment device as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of saidadjustment means is comprised of a smooth elongated guide strip and theother said adjustment means is comprised of an elongated strip having acomplementary guide member at one end thereof at least partiallyengaging over said guide strip for free movement therealong.

6. A band adjustment device as set forth in claim 5 wherein theelongated strip of said adjustment means is adapted to be secured withinthe waist band of a garment with the guide member thereon protrudingoutwardly adjacent the overlapping parts of the garment.

7. A band adjustment device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said meansfor connecting one of said adjustment means to said strip comprises aslidable member slidably mounted on said strip, locking means on saidsliding member for adjustably locking said sliding member and fasteningmeans for detachably engaging complementary fastening means on one ofsaid adjustment means.

1. A band adjustment device for garments having overlapping partsseparated from each other in the region of the waist comprising a stripforming a belt member and buckle means adjustably secured for limitedmovement on one end of said strip, said strip being provided with anoblong opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the strip andsaid buckle means being provided with a member extending into saidopening for limiting the longitudinal adjustment of the buckle means onsaid strip, two interengageable adjustment means infinitely displaceablerelative to each other in the peripheral direction of the band, one ofsaid adjustment means being adapted for connection to one of saidoverlapping parts and the other adjustment means being adapted forconnection to the other of said overlapping parts and means fordetachably and adjustably securing said strip to one of said adjustmentmeans.
 2. A band adjustment device as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidbuckle means is comprised of a plate, a spike pivotally mounted on saidplate for engagement with one of a plurality of holes in the oppositeend of said strip and holding means for frictionally engaging anssecuring said buckle means to said strip in an adjusted position.
 3. Aband adjustment device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said limitingmember is of integral onepiece construction with said plate, saidlimiting member having a portion extending at right angles to the plateand a portion for engagement with a loop on a garment.
 4. A bandadjustment device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plate is providedwith a pair of opposed flanges having oblong slots therein with one endof each slot being closer to said plate than the opposite end and saidholding means comprises a clamping roller rotatably and transverselydisplaceable in said slot whereby said strip will be frictionallyengaged between said roller and said plate.
 5. A band adjustment deviceas set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said adjustment means iscomprised of a smooth elongated guide strip and the other saidadjustment means is comprised of an elongated strip having acomplementary guide member at one end thereof at least partiallyengaging over said guide strip for free movement therealong.
 6. A bandadjustment device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the elongated strip ofsaid adjustment means is adapted to be secured within the waist band ofa garment with the guide member thereon protruding outwardly adjacentthe overlapping parts of the garment.
 7. A band adjustment device as setforth in claim 1 wherein said means for connecting one of saidadjustment means to said strip comprises a slidable member slidablymounted on said strip, locking means on said sliding member foradjustably locking said sliding member and fastening means fordetachably engaging complementary fastening means on one of saidadjustment means.